“All parties who are ballot qualified in enough states to win the election should have access to the debates. Free and Equal is dedicated to that proposition and their tremendous work in the 2008 elections is evidence of that dedication. Free and Equal worked hard to give all ballot qualified parties the opportunity to debate on the national stage. The Constitution Party and Baldwin/Castle camp will always be grateful to Christina and her organization.”
- Darrell Castle, 2008 Constitution Party Vice-Presidential Nominee
“As a member of the Libertarian party, I applaud any effort to improve ballot access for third parties. The more choices voters have, the more likely we are to see substantial changes in our political system take place, such as implementing the National Initiative for Democracy.”
-Senator Mike Gravel, D-Alaska 1969-1981, 2008 Libertarian Presidential Candidate
“When people’s electoral choices are arbitrarily limited, when elections are controlled by big money, when candidates are routinely denied access to public forums and debates, and when new attempts to further marginalize the average voter spring up monthly, you can hardly call this country a real democracy. We know that government isn’t going to take the appropriate steps to guarantee the citizen’s right to vote for the candidate and/or party of his/her choosing without serious pressure. An effort like FREE’s can be a major component of bringing that pressure. Not only will this bring real attention to the absurdity of our electoral system, but it will force elected officials who have stifled challengers to confront real issues at a point in time when public regard for the status quo is very low. America badly needs real democracy, and FREE is poised to be a part of the leadership in making that happen.”
-Phil Huckelberry, National Co-Chair, Green Party
“This is an important step forward in opening up the ballot to the voices of candidates who will challenge the iron grip of the two party duopoly that is shredding our democracy.”
-Ralph Nader, consumer advocate, Independent Presidential candidate
“After giving myself and other third party Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates an opportunity to debate on the national stage during the 2008 election, Free and Equal is now undertaking a huge challenge: reforming the archaic ballot access laws in our nation. I applaud their efforts, and I look forward to seeing a record number of Libertarians on the ballot in 2010, and a Libertarian Presidential candidate on the ballot in EVERY state in 2012!”
-Wayne Allyn Root, 2008 Libertarian Vice-Presidential Nominee & Author, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts!”
“In a Country that demands options and variety in every other facet of life, we limit the political arena to a choice of hamburgers and hotdogs, while there is a buffet just waiting to be sampled. No doubt, Free & Equal will be the primary force of changing politics in America to a scenery that our founding fathers had once envisioned and would once again recognize.”
-Randall C. Stufflebeam, Chairman, Constitution Party of Illinois
“The United States has at least 100 organizations that profess to be working for a better election system. Unfortunately, the vast majority of such organizations completely overlook the problem that so many voters are unable to vote for the political party or the independent candidate of their choice. The right to vote includes the right of choice for whom to vote. Yet in many states, voters who desire to vote for minor party or independent candidates are not permitted to do so, or else they are only permitted to do so by resorting to a write-in vote. Free and Equal will tackle that problem with new energy and determination.”
-Richard Winger, editor and publisher, Ballot Access News
“Illinois voters have now seen first-hand the political and moral bankruptcy of a political order in which corporate money, big banks and other players in the pay-for-play system have come to thoroughly dominate both the Democratic and Republican parties as institutions. One need only look at the records of the last two governors of our State, and of a legislature that has largely failed to address, let alone solve this systemic problem, to recognize that the so-called “two-party system” has failed to serve the interests of the people. Now is the time for the people to act, by getting involved in the efforts to build alternative, principled political parties and/or support independent candidates who truly reflect their interests and who will address the causes of political corruption, and not just remove corrupt office-holders. Look at the Green Party, look at the Libertarian Party, look at the Constitution Party, all of which represent different perspectives and choices but all of which are based on principles other than “donate big money to me and I’ll return the favor if elected.” Then make an informed choice and get involved!
Now is also the time to get involved in the effort to amend our State’s ballot access laws, which are among the most restrictive in the nation and designed to keep third-parties and their candidates off the ballot or at least consume their limited resources in the effort to get on the ballot. The Illinois Green Party and I have first-hand experience with that. In that past battle and in the current battle to amend our ballot access laws, we have come to appreciate and applaud the efforts of the Free and Equal Elections Foundation. FREE has worked hard on the front lines in the effort to give Illinois voters more choices, and better choices, on the ballot. Nothing could be more fundamental to the restoration and maintenance of a genuine democratic Republic than to ensure that the people have the right to choose representatives who truly represent them. The efforts of FREE, the existing third parties in Illinois, and their allies, to fight for reasonable ballot access laws in our State, are a critical first step toward that goal.”
– Rich Whitney, 2006 Green Party candidate for Governor of Illinois
